Connector



Mldl 10, 1959 w. H. FLANAGAN, JR l v2,877,437

` A CONNECTOR Filed oct. 19, 1955 26 2a 30 F'IGLE.

` INvr-:NTQR: WILUAM H.FLANAGAN JR.,

ATTORNEY.

United States Pafemcie' z,s11,4s1 CONNECTOR William H. Flanagan, Jr.,Wellesley,

United-Carr Fastener Corporation, corporation of Delaware Mass.,assignor. to Boston, Mass., a

This invention relates generally lto connectors and has particularreference to an electrical connector designed for use with coaxialcable. l

The object of the invention is to provide a connector in whichcooperating connector members are adapted for engagement by simplypushing together, but can be separated only after manually releasing alocking mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a connector havingportions adapted to snap into engagement in which means are provided onone portion normally preventing flexing of the other portion necessaryfor disengagement until manually released.

A further object of the invention is to provide a connector havingportions which may be joined by a simple axial push yet cannot beaccidentally or unintentionally disconnected.

A further object of the invention is to provide a connector as describedabove which is adapted for rapid and economical manufacture.

Other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious, and will, inpart, appear hereinafter.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in section of a connector embodying the features of theinvention in which the connector portions are in position for assembly;

Fig. 2 is a View of the connector portions during assembly illustratingthe action of the spring arms and the locking mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a view of the connector portions after completion of theassembly;

Fig. 4 is a view in section taken on 3; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one portion of the connector.

Referring to the drawing there is illustrated a connector comprising apair of cooperating portions 12 and 14 adapted for engagement and havingan internal structure adapted to complete an electric circuit.

The connector portion 12 comprises generally a cylindrical body shell 16having an open forward end 18, an apertured rear end 20 for receiving alead wire, and a locking ring 22 disposed thereabout. The shell 16 isprovided with an inwardly embossed peripheral groove 24 disposedthereabout and a crimped rim 26 disposed rearwardly of th.: groove andextending radially outwardly about the circumference of the shell.

The locking ring 22 is provided with a crimped rim 28 projectingradially inwardly forming a forward portion 30 and a rear portion 32spaced radially from the shell. The rear end 34 of the ring is crimpedinwardly on the rear side of the rim 26 to bias the ring into apredetermined forward position so that the forward portion 30 isdisposed about the groove, a spring 36 is disposed about the shell andmaintained in a flexed condition between the rims 26 and 28.

The connector portion 14 comprises generally a body portion 40 having acircumferential series of forwardly line 4--4 of Fig.

. having a forward portion Patented-Mar. 1o, 19,59

2` extending spring lingers 42 withinwardly rounded shoulders 42 formedtherein adjacent the ends. v, The spring fingers 42 are adapted to snap`into and out ofengagement with the shell 16, and to this end the insideydiameter of the body 40 at the spring .lingers is substantially thesame as the outside ,diameter of. the shell 16, and the inside diameterwithin vthe shoulders I44 is `less than the outside diameter of theshell 16and substantially the same as the outside diameter of the vshellin the groove 24. y l i' Y Hence during theA assembly oftthei two partsof the connector, as the spring fingers passover the end 18 of the shell16 they are flexed outwardly, thereby increasing the diameter, of theendof the spring fingers. The in'- side diameter of'the forward, portion.30' of the locking ring is less than the 4diameter: of thespringfingersin the above-mentioned outwardly exed conditiom hence as theconnectors move together, the ends of the spring fingers contact the endof the forward portion 30 of the locking ring and forces it rearwardlycompressing the spring 36 until the shoulders on the spring fingers snapinto the groove 24. The diameter of the spring lingers is therebydecreased to an amount less than the inside diameter of the forwardportions of the ring so that the ring is permitted to move forward toits original position with the forward portion thereafter being disposedabout the shouldered ends of the spring fingers.

The connector portions are thereby prevented from being separated by anaxial pull, since to separate, the shoulders must unsnap from the groovewhich necessitates outward flexing of the arms. However, since theinside diameter of the forward portion is substantially the same as theoutside diameter of the spring fingers, the outward flexing required fordisengagement is prevented.

Disengagement is, however, easily accomplished by manually moving thelocking ring rearwardly to uncover the ends of the spring fingers afterwhich the connector portions may be separated by an axial pull.

The connector portions may also be disengaged in situations where theyare under tension since outward forces by the spring lingers against thelocking ring under such conditions are not great enough to prevent easyaxial movement thereof.

The forward ends of the locking ring and the forward ends of springfingers are inclined outwardly to facilitate engagementl of the members.

The connector is particularly adapted for use with electronic apparatuswhere connections must be rapidly and easily made, yet must be secureagainst accidental disengagement due to shock or vibration, and must bereadily disengaged when desired.

Since certain obvious changes may be made in the device withoutdepartingifrom the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained herein be interpreted in an illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I claim:

1. A connector comprising a first portion cylindrical body shell formedof a single piece of sheet metal and having a peripheral groove formedin spaced relation to the forward end and a peripheral rim disposedrearwardly of the groove and projecting radially outwardly, a lockingring disposed about the body, said locking ring spaced radially from thebody shell, a peripheral rim projecting radially inwardly at the rear ofthe forward portion, and a rear end portion curled inwardly over therear of the peripheral rim on the shell, and a spring member disposedabout the shell between the peripheral rims and biasing the locking ringforwardly into a position such that the forward portion is disposedabout the groove, and a second connector portion comprising a bodyhaving a circumferential series of forwardly extending spring ngershaving inwardly extendingrounded shoulders adjacentthe ends,said fingersbeing dimensioned to pass over the forward end of the first connectorportion and snap into and out of engagement with the peripheral grooveby radial exing of the arms in response to relativeaxial -movement ofthe parts, said forward portion of the locking ring being dimensioned toprevent outward flexing `of the ngers necessary to permit disengagementof the fingers from the groove, said spring fingers having a portion onthe forward end positioned to engage the forward portion of the lockingshell when 'the connector portions are moved together and move thelocking shell rearwardly into a non-lock'- ing position and dimensionedto permit the locking shell toreturn to a locking position after thevspring fingers have snapped into the groove.

2. A connector comprising cooperating conductor portions adapted to snapinto and out of engagement by radial exing of resilient portions, alirst portion comprising a cylindrical body with an vexternalcircumferential groove spaced fromthe end, a second portion having aplurality of forwardly extending spring arms adapted -for telescopic-engagement with said body, -shoulders formed adjacent the terminal endsof said spring arms for snapping engagement with said groove by radialex ing in response to relative axial movement, a locking shellpositioned at one end of said body being normally spring biased in thedirection of the free end of said body, said shell having a flared lipportion adapted for cooperative engagement with the distal ends of saidspring arms enabling said arms to move the shell axially intonon-locking position and allowing locking action when the shoulder ofsaid spring arm enters the corresponding groove.

References Cited Ain the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,956,949 Good May 1, 1934 2,409,650 Wiggins a Oct. 22, 1946 2,566,993Parsons Sept. 4, 1951 2,735,993 Humphrey ..v Feb. 21, 1956 2,784,987Corcoran -`Mar. 12, 1957

